International Harvester in World War Two /WWII

International Harvester in World War Two
Chicago, IL
1902-1985 (For combined farm implement and truck operations.)
Navistar International continues IH trucks today.

This page updated 3-2-2023.

International Harvester started producing motor vehicles with the "Auto Buggy" in 1907, and built the first 100 at the McCormick Works in Chicago, IL, before moving production to Akron, OH in 1908. Production moved once again in 1922 to Springfield, OH with a second plant added in Fort Wayne, IN a year later. The 13,622 half-tracks were built at the Springfield facility from October 1942 through January 1944. Many of the trucks built by International were used by the Navy or Marine Corps or became part of the Lend-Lease program.

In 1944 International Harvester employed an average of 68,940 employees.

This is a 1909 International Harvester Auto Wagon, its first truck. 3,441 were built in Akron, OH. It came with a 16 hp engine. Author's photo at the National Auto and Truck Museum in Auburn, IN.

International Harvester-built Mark XIII torpedoes help sink the Japanese super-battleship Yamato!

How cool is this? Of the 763 torpedoes built by IH during World War Two, the U.S. Navy was able to identify by serial number those built by the company used in this attack. They were Serial Numbers 43507, 71565, 71568, 71574, 43788, 43791, 71489 and 72262. The full story is below.

Added 2-9-2020.

International Harvester won 24 Army-Navy "E" Awards during World War Two.

International Harvester Army-Navy "E" Awards during World War Two
Plant	Location	Product	Date of First Award	Total Number of "E" Awards
McCormick Works	Chicago, IL	Mark XIII Aerial Torpedoes	5-25-1944	2
Tractor Works	Chicago, IL	Farm Tractors and Military Bulldozers	3-10-1943	5
West Pullman Works	Chicago, IL	37mm cannon shells, Bellevue springs for artillery recoil mechanisms, screw machine parts for torpedoes	3-10-1943	2
Wisconsin Steel Works	Chicago, IL	Steel	6-23-1944	3
Indianapolis Works	Indianapolis, IN	Truck engines, 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun mounts	11-6-1943	3
St Paul Works	St. Paul, MN	57mm anti-tank guns	2-5-1943	4
Milwaukee Works	Milwaukee, WI	75mm cannon shells, tracked crawlers, stationary engines, gyroscopes for torpedoes	9-14-1942	5
Total				24

This page from a 1944 edition of the Harvester News-Letter shows the dates when the plants won their first awards. Of interest is that the General Office employees were awarded "E" pins. Added 2-9-2020.

International Harvester was prolific in the number of products it built to help win World War Two. It was one of the largest suppliers of war goods and supplies to the U.S. military during the war. Added 2-9-2020.

International Harvester World War Two Production Statistics: In 1944 52.5% of the output of International Harvester was for military products, as the company was also building commercial trucks and tractors that were needed to keep the American war economy going.

Vehicles: International Harvester had both the US Army and US Navy/USMC as customers for its trucks in World War Two.

US Navy/USMC from Tables 2A, 2B, 2C: 1,123 M-1-4 1/2-Ton 4x4 Utility Trucks, 9,904 M-2-4 One-Ton 4x4 Trucks, 6,532 M-3-6 1-1/2-Ton 4x4 Trucks, 40,087 M-5-6 2-1/2-Ton 6x6 Cargo Trucks, and 20 Low Silhouette M-5-6.

US Army from Table 1: 28,723 trucks of various types and sizes as shown below.

Half-tracks from Table 3: 13,622 half-tracks

Crawlers/Tractors from Table 5: 3,865 TD-6, 19,524 TD-9, 8,848 TD-14, and 7,485 TD-18. These are total production numbers from 1942-1945 by IH, including all military services and any civilian needs.

Below is a table showing acceptances by Army Ordnance of tractors in World War Two. Starting in 1944, the US Army Corps of Engineers took over responsibility for the acceptances of construction-type tractors. Therefore, the information for the US Army is incomplete. There were also 5,290 M5 and 266 M5A1 13-ton high speed tractors (artillery prime movers) built by International Harvester as noted below.

Armament: 20mm aircraft cannons, 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun loading mechanisms, 37mm cannon shells, Bellevue springs for artillery recoil mechanisms, 57mm anti-tank guns, 75mm cannon shells, 105mm shell casings, Thunderbolt 20mm Oerlikon Quad gun mounts, 7 M7 tanks. (Another 20 were still unfinished on the production lines.)

Tank Refurbishment: 166 M3A3 light tanks were refurbished in April, May and June 1945. 269 M4 medium tanks were refurbished between August 1944 and March 1945. 737 M4A1 medium tanks were refurbished between November 1944 and March 1945.

Tank Conversion: 50 T14E1 tank retrievers were converted from M4A3(105)s, which were pulled off of the Chrysler Tank Arsenal assembly line in March and April 1945. These were intended for the USMC to be used in the invasion of Japan.

Other: 830 M22 tank transmissions and differentials, C-46 aircraft engine cowlings, 20mm aircraft cannons, airfield command trucks, armored scout car hulls, gun loaders, blood bank refrigerators, 155 mm high speed gun carriages, 57mm anti-tank gun carriages, USMC invasion ice chests, 763 Mark VIII aerial torpedoes, and tracking units for the M9 gun director.

Editor's note: The 155mm High Speed Gun Carriages were an early war product. The 1941 Congressional Record shows that production of the gun carriages was temporarily suspended due to a strike at its casting supplier in May 1941. I have not yet found a 155 gun carriage built by International-Harvester. At the same time, I have found several by other manufacturers.

International Harvester ranked 33rd in dollar value of World War Two production contracts.

Table 1 - International Harvester Trucks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945." Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch. January 21, 1946.
Type	IH Model	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	Total
1-ton 4x2 chassis (Metro Body)				1				1
2-1/2-ton 6x4 cargo				3,000				3,000
2-1/2-ton 4x2 chassis for 37 passenger bus						1,194	1,859	1,194*
2-1/2-ton 4x2 chassis for 37 passenger bus	K-7					6		6**
2-1/2-ton 4x2 cargo	K-7		5	68				73
2-1/2-ton chassis 4x2 for 1000 gal gas tank	K-7		100	2				102
2-1/2-ton 4x2 dump truck	K-7		1,324	3,461	1,129	225		6,139
2-1/2-ton 4x2 stake	K-7			2				2
2-1/2-ton stand platform 4x2	K-7		7	18				25
2-1/2-ton 4x2 stake and pole derrick	K-7			1				1
2-1/2-ton 4x2 tractor	K-7			220				220
2-1/2-3-ton 6x6 low silhouette	DF6x6	10						10
3-ton 4x4 low silhouette	DF4x4	10						10
3-1/2-ton 4x2 chassis			1,500					1,500
3-1/2-ton 4x2 tractor			500					500
5-ton 4x2 cargo	KR-11		100	2				102
5-ton 4x2 dump	KR-11		70	644	500	1,031	1,063	3,308
5-ton 4x2 tractor 161 inch WB					30	981	221	1,232
5-ton 4x2 tractor SWB light duty 120 inch WB M425	H-542-9					4,030	610	4,640
5-ton 4x2 tractor SWB heavy duty 120 inch WB M426***	H-542-11					4,850	1,828	6,678
Total		20	3,606	7,419	1,659	12,317	5,581	28,723

Author's Note and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for vehicles for the U.S. Army during World War Two. It also purchased vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and for Lend-Lease. However, there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries making direct purchases.

In the case of International Harvester the US Navy/USMC purchased many trucks as shown above.
* Includes 1,859 trucks scheduled for the fourth quarter of 1945.
** These were provided to the Surgeon General.
*** In 1944-45 3,200 M426 tractors were built by Marmon-Herrington and 1,100 by Kenworth. Marmon-Herrington converted 1,200 M425 to M426 specifications in 1945.

Table 2 - International Harvester Fort Wayne, IN and Springfield, OH Truck Production during World War Two Information in this table comes from "International Trucks" by Fred Crismon via Bill Kreiner. While automobile production stopped in February 1942, commercial trucks were still produced during the war, although not at the pre-war rate. This table shows how the Fort Wayne, IN and Springfield, OH assembly plants balanced both military and civilian truck production during the war. The totals at the bottom of the table include only the years 1941-1945, when the two truck plants were producing military vehicles. 1940 is used as the reference year, to give a pre-war civilian truck baseline. Most of the 1942 civilian truck production went to the military.
Year	Fort Wayne Military	Fort Wayne Civilian	Fort Wayne Total	Springfield Military	Springfield Civilian	Springfield Total	Total Military	Total Civilian	Grand Total
1940	0	22,187	22,187	0	64,439	64,439	0	86,626	86,626
1941	500 M-5-6	26,516	27,016	Trucks: 74 M-1-4 53 M-2-4 341 M-3-4 = 468	86,047	86,515	968	112,563	113,531
1942	3,932 M-5-6 20 Low Silhouette M-5-6	22,420	26,372	Trucks: 437 M-1-4 1,600 M-2-4 1,508 M-3-4 = 3,545 Half-tracks: 152 M5 5 M14 = 157	31,972	35,674	7,654	54,322	61,976
1943	6,843 M-5-6	10,773	17,616	Trucks: 615 M-1-4 4,583 M-2-4 3,503 M-3-4 = 8,701 Half-tracks: 4,473 M5 1,859 M5A1 2,026 M9 1,407 M9A1 1,600 M14 400 M17 = 17,765	30,908 of which 12,986 were K5 War Specials	57,374	33,309	41,681	74,990
1944	9,741 M-5-6	10,768	20,509	Trucks: 1,865 M-2-4, 1,180 M-3-4 4,030 H-542-9 (M425) 4,850 H-542-11 (M426) = 11,925 Half-tracks: 1,100 M5A1 600 M17 = 1,700	9,452	23,077	23,366	20,220	43,586
1945	17,472 M-5-6	6,864	24,336	Trucks: 5,058 H-542-11* (M426) Half-tracks: 589 M5A1 1 M5A3*	35,901	41,548	23,119	42,765	65,884
Total 1941-1945	38,508 M-5-6 20 Low Silhouette M-5-6	77,341	115,829	1,126 M-1-4 8,101 M-2-4 6,532 M-3-4 4,030 H-542-9 (M425) 4,850 H-542-11 (M426)	194,280	244,188	88,416	271,551	359,967

*This does not match up with the Army Ordnance figure of 1,828 accepted during 1945 in Table 1. Also, there were 610 H-542-9 (M425) vehicles accepted by Army Ordnance not shown produced by the Springfield plant. It could be that these were shown as H-542-11s by Springfield in its accounting. Adding 1,828 and 610 =2,468, which is still 2,590 in excess of this type of truck accepted by the Army in 1945. The excess of those accepted may have ended up in the post-war civilian market.
**This does not match up with the Army Ordnance figure of 0 accepted during 1945 in Table 3.
***This does not match up with the Army Ordnance figure of 0 accepted during 1945 in Table 3. This may have been a prototype. There is no known documentation on what it could have been. Development work on the IH half-track series ended in October 1943 with the M5A2.

Table 2A - Half-Ton Truck 4x4 Production Data
IHC Model Number	Type	Quantity	IHC Serial Numbers	Contract	Customer
M-1-4 (214)	Cargo	57	501-570	NOm 28692	USMC
M-1-4 (214)	Cargo with Radio Shielding	4
M-1-4 (214)	Ambulance	9
M-1-4 (233)	Cargo	66	571-697	NOm 29992	USMC
M-1-4 (233)	Cargo with Radio Shielding	71
M-1-4 (233)	Ambulance	60
M-1-4 (233)	Ambulance	28	698-725	NOs LL-95051	USN
M-1-4 (233)	Cargo	26	726-758	NOm 32660	USMC
M-1-4 (233)	Cargo with Radio Shielding	7	726-758	NOm 32660	USMC
M-1-4 (233)	Ambulance	100	759-858	NOm 32755	USMC
M-1-4 (233)	Ambulance	80	859-938	NOs LL-95051 supplement	USN
M-1-4 (233)	Ambulance	25	939-963	NOs 4605A	USN
M-1-4 (233)	Ambulance	100	964-1063	NOm 35773	USMC
M-1-4 (233)	Ambulance with Radio Suppression	490	1064-1553	NOm 37671	USMC
Total		1,123

Table 2B - One-Ton 4x4 Truck Production Data
IHC Model Number	Type	Quantity	IHC Serial Numbers	Contract	Customer
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo	38	501-548	NOm 29690	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch	10	501-548	NOm 29690	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo	250	553-866*	NOm 29948	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch	60	553-866*	NOm 29948	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo	226	867-1152	NOm 32660	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch	60	867-1152	NOm 32660	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch with Radio Suppression	1,000	1153-2152	NOm 33887	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch with Radio Suppression	150	2153-2302	NOm 35075	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch with Radio Suppression	500	2303-2802	NOm 35773	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch with Radio Suppression	100	2803-2902	NOm 35942	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch with Radio Suppression	4,900	2903-7802	NOm 37471	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch with Radio Suppression	1,200	7803-9002	NOm 40397	USMC
M-2-4 (233)	Cargo with Winch with Radio Suppression	600	9003-9602	Amendment to NOm 40397	USMC
Total		9,094

*There is a quantity of 310 units for contract NOm 299948. The quantity of serial numbers is 314. Four serial numbers are not included. These are 549, 550, 551, and 552. This discrepancy may affect the final total of 9,094 units built or the proper order of serial numbers for the later built vehicles. It is unknown what is correct and what is incorrect.

Table 2C - One and a Half-Ton 4x4 Truck Production Data
IHC Model Number	Type and Body Manufacturer	Wheelbase (Inches)	Quantity	IHC Serial Numbers	Contract	Customer
M-3L-4 (259)	Cargo (Galion)	139	132	501-632	NOm 28827	USMC
M-3L-4 (259)	Cargo (Galion)	139	30	633-684	NOm 29412	USMC
M-3L-4 (259)	Tank (Columbia)	139	2
M-3L-4 (259)	Cargo (Galion)	139	20
M-3L-4 (259)	Cargo (Anthony)	139	129	685-821	NOm 29419	USMC
M-3L-4 (259)	Wrecker (Gar Wood)	139	8	685-821	NOm 29419	USMC
M-3L-4 (259)	Wrecker (Gar Wood)	139	3	822-824	NO 2655 10661	USN
M-3L-4 (259)	Cargo (Anthony)	139	107	825-935	NOm 32660	USMC
M-3L-4 (259)	Wrecker (Gar Wood)	139	4	825-935	NOm 32660	USMC
M-3L-4 (259)	Wrecker (Gar Wood)	139	7	936-942	NOx 99040	USN
M-3L-4 (269)	Refueler (Gar Wood)	139	820	943-1762	NOx 786A	USN
M-3L-4 (269)	Refueler (Gar Wood)	139	900	1763-2662	NXa 7730	USN
M-3L-4 (269)	Wrecker (Gar Wood)	139	100	2663-2762
M-3L-4 (269)	Crash (Bean)	139	400	2763-3162
M-3L-4 (269)	Refueler (Gar Wood)	139	400	3163-3562	N268a 15373	USN
M-3L-4 (269)	Crash (Bean)	139	230	3563-3792	N268a 15373	USN
M-3L-4 (269)	Crash (Bean)	139	450	3793-4242	NXSA 32148	USN
Total			3,742
M-3H-4 (259)	Cargo (Galion)	150	20	501-520	NOm 26887	USMC
M-3H-4 (269)	Cargo (Anthony)	150	860	521-1380	NOs 786	USN
M-3H-4 (269)	Crash (American LaFrance)	150	210	1381-1590	NOs 3995A	USN
M-3H-4 (269)	Cargo (Meteor Wood)	150	1440	1591-3090	NSx 7730	USN
M-3H-4 (269)	Chassis Only	150	60	1591-3090	NSx 7730	USN
M-3H-4 (269)	Floodlight	150	100	3091-3190	NSx 7730	USN
M-3H-4 (269)	Floodlight	150	100	3191-3290	NXSA 32148	USN
Total			2,790
Grand Total			6,532

Table 2C - Two and a Half-Ton 6x6 Truck Production Data
IHC Model Number	Type and Body Manufacturer	Wheelbase (Inches)	Quantity	IHC Serial Numbers	Contract	Customer
Trucks with International Harvester FBC-361B Engines
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	800	501-1680	NOm-33976	USMC
M-5H-6	Dump (Heil)	149	200
M-5H-6	Wrecker (Gar Wood)	149	20
M-5H-6	Refueler (Gar Wood)	149	10
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	150		NOm-34956	USMC
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	260	1681-1972	NOs-3538A	USN
M-5H-6	Dump (Heil)	149	32	1681-1972	NOs-3538A	USN
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	450	1973-2472	NOm-35402	USMC
M-5H-6	Dump (Heil)	149	50	1973-2472	NOm-35402	USMC
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	750	2473-3282	NOm-35941	USMC
M-5H-6	Wrecker (Gar Wood)	149	35
M-5H-6	Refueler (Gar Wood)	149	25
Total M-5H-6 with FBC-361B Engines			2,782
Trucks with International Harvester RED-361B Engines
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	2,700	3283-11067	NOm-37471	USMC
M-5H-6	Dump (Heil)	149	3,800
M-5H-6	Dump (Galion)	149	400
M-5H-6	Dump (St. Paul)	149	400
M-5H-6	Wrecker (Gar Wood)	149	40
M-5H-6	Refueler (Gar Wood)	149	345
M-5H-6	Chassis Only	149	100
M-5H-6	Dump (Heil)	149	60	11068-11287	N288S-11512	USN
M-5H-6	Tractor	149	100
M-5H-6	Chassis Only	169	60
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	149	2,200	11288-15637	NOm-40397	USMC
M-5H-6	Dump (Anthony)	169	1,800
M-5H-6	Wrecker (Gar Wood)	149	150
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	149	200
M-5H-6	Tractor	149	250	15638-18287	NXSA-32148	USN
M-5H-6	Chassis Only	169	200
M-5H-6	Refueler (Gar Wood)	149	1,100
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	1,000
M-5H-6	Dump (Anthony)	149	100
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	1200	18288-19487	Nom-40397 Ext.	USMC
M-5H-6	Dump (Anthony)	149	150	19488-19987	NXSA-32148 Ext.	USN
M-5H-6	Chassis Only	169	250
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	100
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	800	19988-20787	NOm-40397 Ext.	USMC
M-5H-6	Dump (Anthony)	149	1,800	20788-22587	NOm-40397 Ext.	USMC
M-5H-6	Tractor	169	6,000	22588-38687	NOm-43833	USMC
M-5H-6	Dump (Anthony)	149	7,600
M-5H-6	Dump (Anthony)	149	500
M-5H-6	Chassis Only	149	400
M-5H-6	Chassis Only	169	1,600
M-5H-6	Cargo (Anthony)	169	700	38688-40587	NXSA-57539	USN
M-5H-6	Chassis Only	169	100
M-5H-6	Tractor	149	300
M-5H-6	Refueler (Gar Wood)	149	800
Total M-5H-6 with RED-361B Engines			37,305
Total M-5H-6 with FBC-361B and RED-361B Engines			40,087

Table 3 - International Harvester Half-tracks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945." Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch. January 21, 1946.
Type	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	Total
M9				2,606			2,606
M9A1				1,407			1,407
M5			152	4,473			4,625
M5A1				1,859	1,100		2,959
Carriage, twin cal .50 MB, M14			5	1,605			1,505
Carriage, multiple gun, M17				400	6,00		1,000
Total			157	11,765	1,700		13,622

Author's Note and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for vehicles for the U.S. Army during WWII. It also purchased vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and for Lend-Lease. However, there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries making direct purchases.

Table 4 - International-Harvester Half Track Production
Year	Number built	Type	Comments
1942-1943	(4,625)	M5	Similar to the M3 built by Autocar, Diamond T, and White. Due to differences, International units did not see combat with US combat forces. Some were used in state-side training, but the majority were supplied to Allied Forces under Lend-Lease.
1943-1944	(2,959)	M5A1	Similar to the M3A1 built by Autocar, Diamond T, and White. Due to differences, International units did not see combat with US combat forces. Some were used in state-side training, but the majority were supplied to Allied Forces under Lend-Lease.
1943	(2,026)	M9	Similar to the M2 built by Autocar, Diamond T, and White. Due to differences, International units did not see combat with US combat forces. Some were used in state-side training, but the majority were supplied to Allied Forces under Lend-Lease.
1943	(1,407)	M9A1	Similar to the M2A1 built by Autocar, Diamond T, and White. Due to differences, International units did not see combat with US combat forces. Some were used in state-side training, but the majority were supplied to Allied Forces under Lend-Lease.
1942-1943	(1,605)	M14	Similar to the M13 built by Autocar, Diamond T, and White. Due to differences, International units did not see combat with US combat forces. All went to the British Army.
1943-1944	(1,000)	M17	Similar to the M16 built by Autocar, Diamond T, and White. Due to differences, International units did not see combat with US combat forces. All went to the Soviet Union.
Total	13,622

Table 5 - International Harvester Tractors Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945." Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch. January 21, 1946. In 1944 the Army Corp of Engineers took over the responsibility of accepting construction type tractors. Therefore, 1944 and 1945 have been blanked out for most of the tractors below.
Type	Same As	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	Total
Tractor, light, w/w, M2					155			155
Tractor, light, M2	Caterpillar, Cleveland Tractor	0	3	459				462
Tractor, medium, M1	Allis Chalmers, Caterpillar, Cleveland Tractor	0	275	260				535
Tractor, High Speed, 13 ton, M5					965	3,503	812	5,290
Tractor, High Speed, 13 ton, M5A1							582	582
Tractor, High Speed, 13 ton, M5A3							1	1
Tractor, Med, diesel , 45 hp	Allis Chalmers		102	332	39			473
Tractor, Heavy, M1	Allis Chalmers, Caterpillar	180	699	456	460			1,795
Tractor, Crane, 1 ton, M1	Allis Chalmers		120	57				177
Tractor, Crane, 2 ton, M5					321			321
Tractor, Crane, medium, M3	Caterpillar		92	438	1,210			1,740
Tractor, Crane, heavy, M4	Caterpillar		5	9				14
Tractor, Snow, T29	Willys-Overland				5			5
Total		180	1,296	2,011	3,155	3,503	1,395	11,550

This 1942 International Harvester TD-18 was at the 2020 Tri-State Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Show in Portland, IN. See more photos in the tractor section below. Author's photo added 8-28-2020.

Table 6 - International Harvester New and Rebuilt Tanks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945." Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch. January 21, 1946.
Type		1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	Total
Tank, Medium, M7	New			3	4			7
Tank recovery vehicle T14E1	Conversion						50	50
Tank, Light, M3A3	Rebuild						220	220
Tank, Medium, M4A1, 75mm gun	Rebuild					249	488	737

This period photo shows one of the seven M7 tanks that were produced by IH during WWII. Army Ordnance realized the M7 had no significant improvements over the M4 Sherman tank, and production was halted.

Table 7 - International Harvester Products during World War Two
Plant	Location	Product	Comments
McCormick Works	Chicago, IL	Mark XIII Aerial Torpedoes
Tractor Works	Chicago, IL	Farm Tractors and Military Bulldozers, 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun loading mechanism
West Pullman Works	Chicago, IL	37mm cannon shells
Wisconsin Steel Works	Chicago, IL	Steel
Indianapolis Works / Truck Engine Works	Indianapolis, IN	Truck engines, 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun mounts
Indianapolis Branch House	Indianapolis, IN	M22 tank transmissions and differential assemblies	This was the sales branch office located at 230 South Capital Ave. Temporary space was found in the building for the assembly of the M22 tank transmissions and differential assemblies. Twenty persons working in a 10,000 square foot area began building the assemblies in April 1943. The completed assemblies were then shipped to the nearby Marmon-Herrington plant for installation into the tanks.
Fort Wayne Works	Fort Wayne, IN	Trucks
Bettendorf Tank Arsenal	Bettendorf, IA	M7 tanks, M5, Crawlers	This tank arsenal was built to produce 3,000 M7 tanks. The contract was cancelled in 1943 after only 7 M7s had been completed. Another 20 were partially built on the assembly line.
East Moline Works	East Moline, IL	Gun Trackers for M9 Gun Directors	This product, due to security reasons, was not announced by IH until December 1944. The M9 was used on the 90mm anti-aircraft gun and was credited with being responsible for shooting down a large number of V-1 "Buzz Bombs" over southern England and Antwerp, Belgium.
St Paul Works	St. Paul, MN	57mm anti-tank guns
New Brighton Works,	New Brighton, MN	105mm shell casings
Springfield Works	Springfield, OH	M5, M9 half-tracks, trucks
Chatham Works	Chatham, ONT	Trucks
Milwaukee Works	Milwaukee, WI	75mm cannon shells, tracked crawlers, wheeled tractors, stationary engines
Auburn (Osborne) Works	Auburn, NY	C-46 Engine cowlings

Aerial Torpedoes: International-Harvester received its order for the production of the Mark VIII aerial torpedo in early 1942 and began production five months ahead of the schedule given to it by the U.S. Navy for the spring 1943. The first torpedo came off the IH assembly line in November 1942. The company also built the gyroscopes that helped direct the torpedoes to their target. 7,000 employees were involved in building the torpedoes.

The view is looking down the business end of a Mark XIII aerial torpedo. The Mark XIII was also used by PT boats but would not have the ring around the propellers. International Harvester produced the Mark XIII along with Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, The Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, RI, and Amertorp Corporation. Author's photo from the National Museum of the Air Force.

This was one of the most complicated and difficult weapons of World War Two to build, containing 5,222 individual parts and 1,225 assemblies. Author's photo from the Air Force Museum.

This warhead section of the torpedo would have the detonator and 600 pounds of Torpex explosive. Torpex was 1.5 times more powerful than TNT. Author's photo from the USS Silversides Museum in Muskegon, MI.

This area would contain the alcohol fuel and compressed air to power the steam turbine. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

At the rear of the Mark XIII is the steam turbine. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Halftracks:

This International Harvester M9 half-track was built at its Springfield, OH plant. IH half-tracks are not that prominent in the United States as they were given to our allies under Lend-Lease. This is the first and only one I have found in four years of searching. Author's photo added 10-7-2017.

This M9 was on display at the 2017 Military Vehicle Preservation Association convention at the Cleveland IX Center at the Cleveland Airport. The facility is also known as the Cleveland Tank Plant, as it produced tanks after WWII. Author's photo added 10-7-2017.

Author's photo added 10-7-2017.

The main external distinguishing feature between the IH half-tracks and those built by White, Autocar, and Diamond T, is the rounded sheet metal corners. The other companies had square corners. Author's photo added 10-7-2017.

Author's photo added 10-7-2017.

This International Harvester has the original data plate still in it and is Serial Number 3469. Author's photo added 10-7-2017.

This excellent restoration of an International M5 half-track was on display at the 2019 MVPA convention in York, PA. The M5 is owned by the Wheels of Liberation Museum in New Oxford, PA. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

M5 High Speed Tractors:

This pristine restoration of an International Harvester M5 High Speed Tractor was photographed at the 2019 Thunder over Michigan Airshow. It was restored and is owned by Chris Kurtz of St. George, MO. He has two more that he hopes to also restore providing he can find the necessary parts. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

The restoration is highly detailed with all of the data and information plates attached. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

The M5 is IH Serial Number PM5549 which was built in July 1944. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

The M5 has an unusual seating arrangement for the driver and passengers. The driver sits in the middle front of the vehicle, and crew members sit along the side and the back. The crew members enter and exit out of the front on either side of the driver's station. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This view is looking into the right side of the M5 from the front. There are seat cushions for four soldiers along the right side of the vehicle. A partial seat can be seen along the rear row of seats. Another seat is in the center section behind the driver. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This view is looking in the left side of the driver's station. Not all the positions have cushions on this side along the left-hand side. There is also another seat across the back row and one behind the driver. The M5 could carry an artillery crew of twelve persons plus the driver. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

The driver sits in the center and has padded arm rests on either side of his seat. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This 1942 International Harvester M5A4 high speed tractor is shown as it was used as an artillery prime mover during WWII. Author's photo added 5-21-2018.

Author's photo added 5-21-2018.

This International Harvester-built M5A4 is on display at the Kansas National Guard Museum at the Topeka, KS airport. Author's photo added 10-7-2017.

Author's photo added 10-7-2017.

This International Harvester M5 High Speed Tractor is part of the collection of equipment at WW2 Armor in Osteen, FL. Author's photo added 3-24-2019.

Author's photo added 3-24-2019.

This M5 high speed tractor was on display for many years at the National Military Historical Center, Auburn, IN. It, with the rest of the collection, was sold when the museum found itself in financial straits. This is the only M5 I have found that has the tarp installed to protect the crew in foul weather. The photos of this M5 shall remain on the webpage for historical purposes. Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.

International-Harvester World War Two M5 High Speed Tractor Production Output
Year-Month	5-43	6-43	7-43	8-43	9-43	10-43	11-43	12-43	1-44	2-44	3-44	4-44	5-44	6-44	7-44	8-44	9-44	10-44	11-44	12-44	1-45	2-45	3-45	4-45	5-45	Total
	9	3	23	60	123	202	278	277	375	342	375	375	376	395	266	200	200	200	200	200	150	163	200	200	99	5,290

International-Harvester World War Two M5A1 High Speed Tractor Production Output
Year-Month	5-45	6-45	Total
	66	200	266

M1 (TD-18) Heavy Crawler Tractor: This was on display at the 2020 Tri-State Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Show in Portland, IN.

This is a 1942 International Harvester TD-18 M1 Heavy Tractor. Author's photo added 8-28-2020.

Author's photo added 8-28-2020.

The owner was not around, but there was a can of gasoline on the tracks and a battery charger in operation. Author's photo added 8-28-2020.

Author's photo added 8-28-2020.

This side of the engine bay shows that the sparkplug wires and an electrical ignition system used to start the diesel engine. Author's photo added 8-28-2020.

This side of the engine shows the diesel fuel filters, injection pump, and fuel lines to the diesel engine. It apparently has been in storage for a while, as there is a bird's nest on top of the engine. Author's photo added 8-28-2020.

Trucks:

Here are four International Harvester 4x2 M425/M426 tractors with ten-ton trailers, parked in Cherbourg, France in July 1944. The stake and platform trailers are typical of the trailers the IH tractors pulled during World War Two. Below are photos of an M425 owned by Navistar as part of the company's truck collection.

Pictured here is the International H-542-9, 5-ton 4x2 tractor owned by the Navistar Corporation and stored at its Melrose Park, IL plant. The military designation for the H-542-9 was the M425. International built 4,640 in 1944 and 1945. International also built 6,678 H-542-15 with military designation M426. They were nearly identical, except for larger tires and a heavier duty suspension which allowed it to pull larger loads.

I want to thank Navistar Historian Tom Clark for spending a day with me in late June 2019 and taking me on a tour of the truck collection at the company's Melrose Park, IL plant. This is a very rare International Harvester-built tractor.

The Melrose Park plant was built during World War Two by the Buick Motor Division of General Motors for the production of R-1830 engines for the B-24 bombers. After the war, it was purchased by International Harvester, which produced truck engines in it until about 2015. Today the plant does special projects for the company and stores the company's collection of historical trucks. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

The trailer is thirty feet in length and is not typical of the trailers the M425/426 series tractors pulled. The M425 normally pulled 5-ton stake and platform trailers while the M426 pulled 10-ton trailers of the same type. While the GMC 2-1/2 ton 6x6 truck gets a lot of well deserved credit for carrying supplies during World War Two, it was tractors like the IH M425/426 and those built by other truck manufacturers that pulled the semi-trailers that were able to haul larger tonnages of the supplies needed to fight a modern war. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

The tractor is fully operational, and the company loans it out to dealers for special occasions, as it does other trucks in the collection. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This is an interesting data plate. While two data plates show the truck as an H-542-9, this shows the truck as being a model HHAH-2850. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Here is a small part of the Red Diamond 450D 6-cylinder engine. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Three years after visiting the H-542-9 in Melrose Park, I found this H-542-11 at the World War Two American Experience in Gettysburg, PA. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

The data plate shows this as serial number 6943. It was delivered in May 1945. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

The International Harvester M-1-4 4x4 trucks were used extensively by the US Navy and Marine Corps. From the collection at the former National Military Historical Center, Auburn, IN. Author's Photo.

Since only 1,123 M-1-4 trucks were built, this example is very rare. Author's Photo.
Author's note: The above vehicle is no longer on display at the Museum. The Museum no longer exists.
DDJ 6-11-2018

This International Harvester-built M-1-4 233 1/2-ton 4x4 truck is on display at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles in Boyertown, PA. The ambulance body was built on the IH chassis by the Boyertown Auto Body Works in this same building that is now the museum. The Boyertown Auto Body Works built 900 of these ambulances on the M-1-4 chassis. This is only one of two Boyertown-built ambulances still in existence. International Harvester built 1,123 M-1-4 chassis and the Boyertown Auto Body Works made 80% of them into front line ambulances. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

The date plate describes this as a M-1-4 233 1/2-ton 4x4 that was built on 2-11-1942. It has a maximum speed of 45 mph and is IH Serial Number M-1-4 1313. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

The M-1-4 field ambulance could carry several litter patients in the Boyertown-built ambulance body. This frontal view of the vehicle shows it was a very robust vehicle. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This M-2-4 was on display at the 2019 World War Two Weekend in Reading, PA. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This International M-2-4-233 was built on 8-28-1944. Seventy-five years later, the numbers are worn on the data plate, but the serial number can be discerned as M2-4-8635. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This International M-2-4 truck was seen at the 2019 World War Two Weekend as it drove across the ramp. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This M-2-4-233 one-ton 4X4 truck was seen at the 2014 MVPA National Convention in Louisville, KY. This particular unit was delivered to the USMC on 1-11-1943. Author's photo added 7-28-2014.

This is one of 10,450 built for the Navy and USMC during WWII. Author's photo added 7-28-2014.

Author's photo added 7-28-2014.

M-2-4-1356 was on display at the 2017 MVPA National Convention in Cleveland, OH. It was built on 8-25-1942. Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

Author's photo added 12-24-2019.

This is a very rare International Harvester M-5H-6 2-1/2-ton 6x6 truck that the company built for the USMC. This is the only one I have personally found, and it is awaiting restoration at the World War II American Experience in Gettysburg, PA. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

This vehicle is serial number 31431 and was delivered in July 1945. It is one of 40,087 that were built during World War Two. Note that this was built for the USMC. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

The truck has Navy registration number 284687 painted on the door. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

The image in the lower right hand corner of the driver's door indicates that this was used not by the USMC, but by the Navy Seabees. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

There is nothing left of the cloth covering on the bench seats. The museum has used a cardboard to sit on while moving the vehicle for a special outside display. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

The truck came equipped with an Anthony dump truck bed for use by the Seabees. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

This World War Two era International Harvester-built U.S. Navy crash truck was built in May 1945. It was on display at the 2019 World War Two Weekend at Reading, PA. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Interestingly, the data plate identifies this as an M-5H-6-361 2/-1/2 to 3-ton 6x6 and yet it is a 4x4. The Serial Number appears to be 8010 as the leading number 2 has been 'x' out. It was delivered to the USMC in May 1945. The data plate shows it was a Marine vehicle, but the markings on the side are U.S. Navy. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This International former military crash truck is in the storage yard at the Sam Werner Military Museum in Monteagle, TN. Its previous owner was an excavating company in Battleground, WA. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This vehicle has no data plate on it for date of manufacture and serial number information. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

This World War Two era International commercial pickup truck with U.S. Navy markings was at the 2019 World War Two Weekend in Reading, PA. Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

Author's photo added 10-4-2019.

An International M-2-4 undergoes testing in the winter snow.

A Marine M-2-4 (R) and an International TD-18 tractor (L) on the beach at Okinawa.

Marine M-2-4s at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego, CA.

The International M-2-4 in combat.

Other International Harvester World War Two Products:

During World War Two International Harvester produced 3,865 TD-6 crawler tractors similar to this 1949 model on display at the Heavy Construction Equipment Museum in Bowling Green, OH. Author's photo added 1-22-2018.

Author's photo added 1-22-2018.

The Indianapolis Works built the transmission and differential for the 830 M22 light tank built by Marmon-Herrington in Indianapolis, IN. The transmission and differential were located in the front of the tank. Author's photo taken at 2015 Rockford, IL military show.

This International Harvester 20mm Oerlikon Quad Mount is on the USS West Virginia. These IH-built Quad mounts were also experimentally installed on the USS Arkansas, USS Colorado, USS Maryland, USS Washington, and USS Massachusetts. These quad mounts were known as Thunderbolts and were designed to increase the anti-aircraft firepower on the ships. After testing, the Navy decided not to install any more, as they required power to operate. The manually operated 20mm cannons could still operate when electrical power was lost during battle.

International Harvester built engine cowlings for the Curtiss C-46 Commando. Author's photo.

This 57mm anti-tank gun is on display at the Louisiana Maneuvers and Military Museum at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, LA. It has an International Harvester-built M1 gun carriage. Author's photo added 3-22-2018.

The gun carriage, built in 1942, is serial number 1704. Author's photo added 3-22-2018.

Author's photo added 3-22-2018.

This ad provides a listing of all war products International Harvester was making for the war effort as of the date of the ad. Half-Track Military Vehicles, Torpedoes, Artillery Prime Movers (M5s), Automatic Airplane Cannons, Oerlikon Gun Mounts, Military Trucks, Military Tractors, Steel Products for Military Use, Aerodrome Command Trucks, Armored Scout Car Hulls, High Speed 155mm Gun Carriages, Gun Loaders, Airplane Engine Cowling Assemblies, Tank Transmissions, Blood Bank Refrigerators, Shells, Adapter Boosters, Tractors, and Marine Corps Invasion Ice Chests.

What a beautiful and classic looking truck! This is a 1947 International Harvester dump truck, which displays the styling of its trucks right after the Second World War. Author's photo at the National Auto and Truck Museum in Auburn, IN.

The International Harvester Fort Wayne Truck Plant 1923-1983: On July 15, 1983 the International Harvester Fort Wayne truck plant closed and put 2,200 workers out of jobs. It was a sad day for Fort Wayne and Indiana. Currently, much of the plant still stands and has been repurposed by other companies for their use. It has been renamed International Park. I knew two persons that lost their jobs when this plant closed.

All of the International Harvester trucks shown on this webpage were built at this location. This plant produced many of the International trucks used by the U.S. military during World War Two.

The former International Harvester Fort Wayne truck plant is in the lower right hand corner of the Google Maps satellite view. It is now called International Park. This map shows the plant was located at the south end of Coliseum Boulevard south of New Haven Avenue. No doubt, in 1923 this area was all farm land, and the construction of the plant was what is known today as a "green field" factory. Most likely, the Harvester Community residential area developed after the opening of the factory and was the home of many International workers. Image courtesy of Google Maps added 3-2-2023.

Image courtesy of Google Maps added 3-2-2023.

This image is looking south along Coliseum Blvd. This image and the next two scan the front of the factory from south to north. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

The rainy and dreary day that I took these photos very well fit my mood. It is always a sad occasion to go out and photograph a factory that once had 2,200 workers turning out trucks and earning paychecks to feed their families. Previously located north of the International Harvester truck plant was the location of the Magnavox headquarters and factory. It is gone and has been replaced by a new structure. Author's photo added 3-2-2023.

This image is looking east down Pontiac Street. This photo was taken from the location of the former Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation headquarters and factory. There is nothing left of it as it was razed in the early 2000s. Author's photo added 2-2-2023.

Post-World War Two Products:

International Harvester purchased the former World War Two P-47 plant in Evansville, IN. During the Korean War International built M1 Garand rifles in this facility. This M1 is on display at the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis, IN. Author's photo added 9-30-2018.

During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan International built over 9,000 MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. This one is part of the collection National Amour and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, GA. Author's photo added 9-30-2018.

Author's photo added 9-30-2018.|